Elliot had been working at the precinct most of the night. Olivia was at home with Elliot's children and Noah Elliot Stabler, their newest edition to the Stabler clan Elliot's mom Elaine had moved in with them so she would have a little bit of company.
Olivia had just finished cleaning the house that the Stabler kids had left in a mess. Elliot and Olivia love each other so much it's just something in their lives is straining their marriage. Since Elliot's kids had moved in and Kathy had abandoned them she had to adapt to her husband's kids causing havoc in her house. They hadn't washed up their dinner plates and left all their stuff all over the place. Olivia tries to be a good step mom to Elliot's kids but they don't half test her patience. At work Liv had gotten assigned to be Fin's partner on the job whilst Elliot was assigned Munch as his.
At 11:30pm that night Elliot walked through the door meeting an eerily quiet living room the only sound was the faint theme music to 'Friends' playing on the TV and Olivia not really watching it, and Elliot's mom in her bedroom.
"Where the hell have you been its really late", Olivia shouted as her husband walked through the door.
"I'm sorry honey, Captain kept us doing a stakeout very late. What's up with you Liv?".
"Okay El. We need to talk".
"About what?".
"About us El. Were stuck in a rut. You come home at stupid hours. I mean I spend long hours at my job but I always make time for the kids. But you haven't been at home for much time recently and you're never their to read to Eli or Noah plus they always ask where daddy is. Also Lizzie & Dickie are driving me crazy they never tidy up after themselves and always give me back chat. I love them to pieces but I can't manage it all on my own El. Sometimes I think you prefer work over your family".
"Liv, I don't prefer work over-"
"No El let me finish".
"Go on"
"Sex Elliot. We've not had sex in 2 months. I mean before we had Noah together we were always having sex and now it seems like you never want to. Do you not want me anymore Elliot. Everything I do around here whether it concerns you're kids or Noah I just feel like I'm a bad mother and a bad wife. I feel like I've done something so wrong when you haven't been around much".
"Liv, sometimes I'm just not in a great mood when I come home late and you've not done anything wrong", Elliot replied not really in the mood to argue.
"Really it doesn't feel like I'm doing things right these days".
"Look, with Lizzie & Dickie you just have to shout at them that usually gets them to do things. You're a detective you'll figure something out. Eli & Noah practically spend every hour of the day with you, I really don't see what the problem is Liv, you're doing fine and plus my mom lives with us so why not ask her to do some stuff once in a while".
"What?", Liv replied slightly pissed.
"I mean you just need to chill out babe everything is okay".
"You know what for saying that you can have the couch tonight", Liv said storming off upstairs.
"FINE", Elliot shouted which was met with a slam of the door. If the kids weren't already asleep they wouldn't have been then.
That night they slept separately. Liv practically cried herself to sleep. She may be a tough bad ass detective but she did love Elliot and sometimes got upset over their relationship.